Power-transmitting device.



w. T. McCULLOUGH.

Powie TRANsM'mmc Dwice.

APPLOCATtON FILED 08.5.1918.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET @awr @MIJ-65M@ /Z MQaMvQw/g W. T. MCCULLUUGH.

POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE* APPLlcATloN msn APR. 5. 19m.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. T. McCULLOUGH.

Powfa msmlmc DEVICE.

APPUCATiON FILED APR. 5. 19l8.

1,283,243. Patented ocu 29, 1918.

4 sains-safer 3.

W. T. MCCULLOUGH.

POWER TRANSM'TTING DEVXCE.

APPucmon msn APR.5.1s|s.

1 ,283,243. Patented Oct. 29, H318.

4 SHEETS-SNEE 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFIPICI.

WILLIAM T. MCCULLOUGH, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POWER-TRANSMITTING DEVICE.

Application iled April 5, 1918.

T0 all 'who/ib t may Concern Be it known that I, Tilman T. MeilenlioUGII, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State oic Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Power-Transmitting Devices, of which thefollowing is a Ispecification.

My invention relates to variable speed gearing.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide speed changing gearingin which a. member may be` driven at variable, selected speeds. from asubstantially constant-speed drivingI member without unmeshing thegeared members.

In carrying my invention into efl'ect I provide, preferably, asun-and-planet system of gearing. comprisingr a so called sun-gear,intel-meshing with a plurality of epicylie planetary gears and s0arranged that the planetary gears intermesh with and are containedwithin a surrounding, internal-gear member.

In the specific structure, herewith illusi trated, the planetary, orintermediate gears, are bodily carried by the driven member. while theassociate sun-gear and internal gear may, selectively, be connected tothe driving member, or held stationary, in accordance with the relativespeed and torque effect to be transmitted to the driven member.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, the invention is especially Well adapted for a counter-shaft formachine tools, such as lathes, Shapers, milling machines, etc., Where aplurality of speeds ahead and as many in reverse direction areobtainable Without the shifting of belts.

In the accompanyingr drawings- Figure 1 is a `plan view showing parts insection, taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 4, of an organized mechanism forcarrying my invention into effect, especially adapted for use as acounter-shaft.

Fig. 2 is a section, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on line 5-5 oi" Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of a detail.

3 is asection, taken on line 3 3 of Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Urt.

Serial No. 226,812.

In all the views the same reference characters are en'iployed toindicate similar parts.

A shaft l( extends through the device, from end to end, and is supportedin bear ings 11 and 12 carried by hangers 13 and 14, respectively.Projecting laterally from the bearing ends of the hangers, 13 and 14,are plates or arms 15 and 16, respectively. A relatively stationary rod17 threaded at its ends, is secured to the plates by threaded nuts 18and 19, at each end. The rod 17 serves as a support for other parts ofthe mech anism, to be hereinafter described. Be.- sides. it also servesas a spacing means to hold the hangers 13 and 14 properly spaced apart.

Another rod or shaft 20, is supported in bearings in the ends of theplates l5 and 1G. and is axially slidable therein.

A sleeve 21 is supported on roller bearings 22 and 23, on the shaft 10,and is keyed to a housingr 24, by a key 25. A similar, but shortersleeve 26, is supported on roller hearings 27, on the shaft 10, and iskeyed to a similar housing Q8, by a key 29. The sleeve Q6 is expandedradially into a flange 30 forining on its laterally turned edge aninternal gear The housing 23, and the internal gear 31 therefore alwaysrevolve together as one. A sleeve 32, rotates freely on roller bearings33, on the sleeve Q1, and is secured to a driven member or pulley 34, bya key 35. The sleeve 32 is expanded radially, as at 36, into a housingor casing 37. The other side 38 of the casing 37 rotates freely aroundthe sleeve 26 over aY ring or Washer of felt, or the like, 39, whichserves as a dust screw. The part 36 of the easing 37 carries threeplanetary gears 40, 41 and 42, Which revolve on studs 43, 44 and 45,respectively, that are liXed in the disk 36. The disk is a part of andrevolves with a driven Wheel 34. The sleeve 21 is also expanded, at oneend, into a sun-gear 46. The planetary gears 40, 41 and 42 mesh with thesun-gear 46 and with the internal-gear 31. The planetary gears arepreferably mounted on roller bearings 47.

A clutch member at one end, and another, 51, at the other end, each areprovided with a split expansible ring, 52 and 53, respectively. Therings 52. 53 are each provided With a spoke 54 and a hub 55 the latterbeing keyed to the shaft 10, by a key 56. A segment 57 of the ring iscontinuous of the spoke 54 at one end, and is loose or i'ree at theother end. It has at 58 an inturned part 50. The inturnvd part orshoulder 50 allords an abutment for the pivotal toe end t'itl, olE thelvver (31. The lever (31 is pivoted, as al (32, to a sl ud projvfvlingfrom the spoke Fil. and terminates in an end (i3, in whivh is anadjustable screw (il, adapted to he svvurvd in adjusted position by thenut 05 to regulate the extent o1 uiovvinvnt of the lv ver hv its vene.When thv Ylrve end 133 ot thv lvvvi 61 is pushed outvvardljyv b v thevoue, thv toe 01 of the lever G0 pushes against the abutinvnt 5U andexpands the .sections of the ring into driving frietional Contact withthv housing 2t or 28, as the ease may be. A similar section G0 of thering, is continuons with the spoke, as atA 51, and is split as at 08 andeoiierates with a similar level' (i9, inthe salue manner. This lvvvi` isalso provided with an adjustable svrew T0 adapted to he tixvll inposition by ,f1 nut Tl.

lt uill non' liv manifest that ulti-ii thv outvi Vli'ev ends tti thvlvvvl's til and tilt arv pushed outwardliv in a lirvvtion aivav vtromvatfh othvr` that thv svgmvnts tfi and titi olI tiniings .32 or .323will liv brought into l'rivtional vontaet with thv inner surfaces of thehousings 24 or as thv vase nia)Y be, the innvr structures of theseelutrh nievhanisnisv 50 and 51 being duplieates.

lt`revlv slidablv upon thv rotatable shaft 10 are Cones T3 and T4, eavhof which is annnlarlv grooved, as at T5, for the inclusion of a fork 7Gand 77, respectively. The t'orks T0 and TT are vavh lireel'v slidahleupon the rod 1T. Fixed to thv over-head stringvrs` TH and Tft, to vvhivhthv hangers 13 and l-l ai'v svvured, are vlips Sti and S1, in whivh arepivotvd sets of links H2 and b'lvf, rvspvirtivvlv There are two sets ofthese links., one for each vlutvh nivinhvr 5() and ()n the lower freeend of the link S2 is pivoted to a shoe S5, which is i'iXed to afriction band SG, one of which spans the outside surface of each of thehousings. 24 and 28, respectively. Between the links Sli-83 are twolaterally extending parallel levers 87 and 8S, pivoted thereto, as at 89and 90, respectively. The inner ends of these levers each earries a shoe91 and 92, respevtivelv, which are eu red to the ends of the brake band81'. The outer ends of the levers S7 andSS are enlarged, as at 91 and95, respectively, for threaded adjustable screws 9G and 97, which aresecured in adjusted position by the nuts 08 and 99, respectively.

A guide block is fixed to the rod 17 for eaeh set of levers and servesas a guide, for the levers 87 and 88, to prevent any lateral motionthereof when they are brought into cooperation with their respectivecones 101 and 103. The cones 101, 103 are spa-eed apart` and areintended for cooperation with the resiiieetive clutches and to tightentheir respective brake bands 86. The space between the cones adrnits ashifting lever 106 lo liv invluded tllvrvhvlivvvu. ltiaeh ol thvsv ionesis providvd with a llang'v ltl'l,y and 105` iesl'ievtiv'vlv. The lvvvi'ltlt is .suspvudvd at its upper end t'roin an v vv 10H, allot-dvd h v alaterally projet-ting arm ltlT, that is svvul'vd to the sliingvr ill.rod lltl is vonnvetvd to thv lork T13 h v a svl'vu tlii'vadvd eonnvvtion and a nut 111. (hi tliv other vnd oi thv i'od it vairies` a lilovh112 whit'h is ,secured thvrvto liv nuts` 113i. When thisl rod 110 isiuovvd axially it movvs` thv t'orked arui T0 vo extensively on thv fixedrod 1T. A similar rod 114Y is secured to thv 'toi-k TT by .similarthreaded nut vonneetious and on its opposilv` end val'lies a block 115.

Means lor rotating' thv `shalt lll nmiY liv alibi-dvd liv thv normallyloose pullvvs` 11H and llft, adaptvd to he i'olatvd inoppositidii'vtlions, as .shown h v thv ai'imvs 121i. 121. 'l`livt-lutvhvs` 122` l2?, arv` similar in vliaiai` titiA to lllv vluttllvsfill and i1,livi'vtol'orv dv si'rilivd. opvialilv liv tliv donlilv olivl2t and 12T. axially iiiovalilv ou thv ahal't ltt h v thv t'tukvd arm127i. This arin nia)4 liv moved liv a shitting lv\vi' 2f, ivliivli ispivotvd tlivi'vto. ll'hvn it is desirable to have thv shaft 10 rotate inthe direction shown by thv` arroiv 121 the 'forked arni 121- is moved bythe shitting' lever 125 in diret-.tion toward thv pulleyr 110. Then itis desirable to ro tate the shaft 10 in the opposite dirvetion, theforked arin 121 is nioved by thv` shifting lever 125, in thv oppositedirection. The pulleys 118 and 119 nia \r he driven by a straight beltand by a tross belt. respviftively, or b v two straight livlts` drivvnat dill'vi'vnt Speeds.

The operation oll the dvvivv is briellv as follows.'

In the position shown iu the drawings. all ot' the clutches are ont o1'engagement, and the shaft 10 is free to be rotated without ro tating anyof the associated parts except the Clutch rings and 53, which areeonneeted thereto b v the keys 50.

Now when it is desirable to rotate the shaft 10, the forked arin 121- ismoved toward the pullevtY 118 or 111), as the ease inay be. This elutcies either of the pulleys 118 and 119 vvith the shaft 10. I1 now thelever 100 be held against the red 20 and inoved to the right, the cone103 will be vforced between levers 8T and 8S, moving them apart and thusContracting the brake band 86 on the housing :T28 and holding it and thegear 31 stationary. The lever also engages the block 11'2 and by theoperation of the rod and the fork 70, the cone 73 will be forced betweenthe levers 61 and 69, thus expanding the ring in the housing 24 endclutching iit and the gear 46 to the shaft 10. The easing 37 and thedriven member, in this instance the pulley, Slt, will now be driven at arelatively slow speed.

If now, lever 106 is shifted from the extreme rightto the extreme left,while being held against the rod Q0. the latter will be moved axiallyand the conc 103 will be withdrawn from between its respective levers 87and 88, thus releasing the brake band 80 and the gear 31. The flange 105on the cone 10B will then be brought into Contact with the block 11'2thus pushing out cone 73 and releasing the clutch ring 52, whereupon thecone 101 will be forced between its levers 87 and 88, thus contractinglhc band 86 on the clutch hmisingr 24, holding it and the sun gear t6stationary, while the cone 74, through the operation of the block 115and the rod 114C together with the fork 77; has been forced between thelevers Gl and 69, expanding the ring 53 and clutching the housing 28 andthe gear 31 to the shaft. As a result` the casing 37 and the pulley 3l;will then be driven at an intermediate speed. It' the lever 106 is nowswung over against the rod 1T, and moved to the right, the block 112will strike the flange 105 on the cone 103 and move it and the rod 20and the cone 103 with it, thus releasingr the brake band 86, and thecone 73 will be drawn into engagement with ring 52, while the clutchring 53 is still engaged so that the two gears 16 and 31 are nowclutched to the shaft and are revolved at shaft speed and since thegears are locked, the casing 3T and the pulley 34 revolves with them.

Then it is desired to put the device through its paces; as heretoforedescribed, with the parts rotating in the opposite dircction to theexample given, it is only` necessary to swing the clutch-operating lever125, so as to move the cones 126 and 127. in the opposite direction,when the same effect will be produced with all of the parts driven inthe opposite direction or double the number ot' speeds that will beobtained from the pulley7 34 if the pulleys 11S and 119 are driven inthe same direction at different speeds.

(lt course the gear relation may be changed to suit conditions so thatthe various members may be driven at any desirable relativi` speed. Suchchanges are within the skill of persons versed in the art.

\Vhile I have herein shown a single embodimcnt of my invention, tor thepurpose oi' clear disclosure. it will be manifest, to persons skilled inthe art, that many changes may be made in the arrangement anddisposition of the parts within the scope of the appended claims andfurthermore that other means tor rotating the shatt 10 may be employedin lieu of the pullevs 118. 119 as herctofore described.

Having described my invention; what I claim is:-

1. power transmitting mechanism comprising a driving and a drivenmember; a sun gear rotatable about the axis of said driving member; aninternal gear independently rotatable about the axis of said members;intermediate planetary gears rotatable with the driven member; a clutchfor the sun gear to connect it to the driving member: a clutch t'or theinternal gear to connect it to the driving member; a brake for cachmember to hold the respective members to prevent its rotation and meansfor coincidentally operating the clutch ol one member and the hralie ofthc other member, alternatively.

2. A power transmittingl mechanism Qomprising a driving and a drivenmember; a sun gear and an internal gear, each rotatable about the axesand independentlyv or' said members; intermediate planetary gears bodilyrotatable with the driven member; a clutch for the sun gear to connectit to the driving member: a clutch tor the internal gear to connect itto the driving member; a brake for cach member to hold the rcspectivemembers to prevent its rotation and means Vlfor releasing both brakesand for connecting both gears to the d iving member.

3. A power transmitting mechanism comprising a shaft; a driven member;an internal gear and a sun gear, each freely rotatable about the sameaxis: intermediate planetary gears bodilyY rotatable with the drivenmember and intermeshing with said internal gear and said sun gear; meansto clutch the sun gear to the shaft and means to hold it to prevent itsrotation; means to clutch the internal gear to the shaft and means tohold it to prevent its rotation and means to simultaneously operate theclutch of one gear and the holding means of the other` alternatively.

4. A power transmitting mechanism compris'ing a shaft: a driven member.an internal gear and a sun gear. cach treelv rotatablc about said shaft;intermediate planetar \v gears bodilyT rotatable with and carried b vthe driven member aml intcrmcshing with said internal gear and said sungear, and means to clutch the internal gear to the shaft and tosimultancouslv hold the sun gear to prevent its rotation whereby todrive the driven member at a rrlativclv higher` or intei-mediate speed.

AV power transmitting mechanism comprising a driving member; a drivenmomber; an internal gear and a sun gear cach irecly rotatable about thesame axis independently of said members; intermediate planetary gears,carried bv the driven member7 and intermcshing with said internal gearand said sun gear and means to simultaneously clutch the sun gear andthe internal gear to the driving member whereby to drive the drivenmember at the same speed. as that of the driving member.

6. A power transmitting, variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft; asun gear7 normally loose thereon; means to clutch the sun gear to theshaft; means to hold the sun gear stationary While the clutch is open;an internal gear, normally loose on the shaft; means to clutch theinternal gear to the shaft; means to hold the internal gear stationarywhen the clutch is disengaged; a driven member; planetary pinions bodilyrotatable `with said driven member and in mesh with the other tivo gearsand means for clutching one gear to the shaft and coincidentally-holdingthe other gear stationary.

g'. A power transmitting, variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft; adriven member, a sun gear, an internal gear and a plurality of pinionscarried by the driven member, in mesh with the aforesaid gears, allnormally rotatable about said shaft; a clutch for each gear forconnecting said gears alternatively7 to the shaft; means for holdingsaid gears stationary, alternatively, and means for moving said elutchesand gear-holding means, alternatively, whereby to clutch one gear to theshaft and to hold the other gear stationary.

8. A power transmitting, variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft: adriven pnlley, a sun gear. and an internal gear normally loose about theshaft', planetary pinions in mesh with said gears and bodily rotatablewith said pulley; a clutch, having one element normally connected withthe shaft and a brake band to engage the other clement of the clutch,one such clutch for each gear, an axially movable cone for con'l neetingeach clutch to its respective gear and an aXlally movable cone forclosing said brake bands and a lever forl coincidentally moving theclutch cone, for one gear, and the brake-band cone for the other gear,when the lever is shifted in opposite directions, to

'selectively connect one of said gears to the shaft and to hold theother gear stationary, to rotate the driven member at variable speeds.

9. A power transmitting mechanism comprising a sha ft; a sleeve; a` sungear carried on said sleeve; an internal gear; said internal gear andsleeve each independently rotatable on said shaft; a driven memberfreely rotatable on said sleeve; intermediate planetary gears carried bythe driven members and intermeshing with said sun gear and said internalgear; means to clutch the sun gear to the shaft; means to hold the sungear stationary when its clutch is disengaged; means to clutch theinternal gear to the shaft; means to hold the internal gear stationarywhen its clutch is disengaged and means to clutch both gears to theshaft and to dise-ngagc the holding means.

1U. A power transmitting variable speed mechanism comprising a shaft; asnn gear normally loose thereon; means to clutch the snn gear to theshaft; means to hold the sun gear stationary when its clutch isdisengaged; an internal gear normally loose on the shaft; means toclutch the internal gear to the shaft when. its clutch is disengaged; adriven member; planetary pinions bodily rotatable with said drivenmember and in mesh With the two gears, and means for clutching eithergear to the shaft and coincidentally holding the other gear stationaryand means for simultaneously clutching both snn gear and internal gearto the shaft.

11. A power transmitting variable speed mechanism comprising a drivingshaft; a driven pulley; a sun gear and an internal gear, normally looseon the shaft; planetary pinions in mesh with said gears and bodilyrotatable with said pulley; a clutch having one element normallyconnected with the shaft and a brake band to engage the other element ofthe clutch; one said clutch and brake for each said gear; an axiallymovable cone for operating each clutch and an axially movable cone foroperating each said brake band, and a lever for coincidentally movingthe clutch cone for one gear and a brake band cone for the other gear,when the lever is shifted, to selectively connect one of said gears tothe shaft and to hold the other gear stationary or to connect both gearsto the shaft and coincidentally release the brake bands to rotate thedriven member at variable selected speeds.

In testimony whereof l hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM T. MCCULLOUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patente,

Washington, D. C.

